In November 1990 Sky TV and BSB merged to form British Sky Broadcasting. It was inevitable, just like the VHS vs Betmax wars, everyone had come to the conclusion that 2 satellite networks using completely different systems just couldn't survive. One had to go and with Sky having launched a year before, BSB was the victim.
Below are 4 news reports showing how the media reported the news, the first clip is one hour after the announcement at 10pm on Sky News, the last is the following day from BBC News with Moria Stewart.
Sky News - Merger Report1990
A week after the news Penny Smith tells us some good news for former BSB subscribers, They're all going to get free Sky dishes!This was the press release from BskyB explaining the new combined service (click on images for larger versions)
British Satellite Broadcasting (as seen by BSB viewers)
So what channels would survive?
Sky One / Sky News1990
Galaxy and Sky One merged to form Sky One, Now and Sky News merger to form Sky News.
Now Last Transmission - First Transmission of Sky Arts1990 The last transmission of the Now Channel from BSB.
Sky Arts was introduced, as an opt service from Sky News on the Marco Polo Satellite to fulfill contractal requirements to show former Now Arts programmes.
Power Station Cease Transmission1991
The Power Station is no more, but look! Sky Movies from 6th April 1991
This promo explains the changes...
British Satellite Broadcasting (as seen by Sky TV viewers)
No real change for Sky viewers apart from some amended idents (below) and extra programming aquired from BSB's Galaxy and Now channels
Now Sir Robin1990
One of the few programmes to make the transition from Now to Sky News. It wouldn't last long though!
Interestingly Sir Robin's picture is less of a caricature in the Sky News version?
1991
BskyB 5 Channel TV Promo1991 In 1991 a total of nine channels were streamlined into a five channel network - Sky News, Sky One, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and The Movie Channel.
This long promo explains the changes for viewers on the Astra satellite
